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How long does it usually take to get a License mailed to you
Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 10:13 pm
by straightedge3
I will be moving to Galveston for school and I will live by myself, so I need to get a CHL. I read on the CHL book that it says they have a 21 day turn around time.
Can you tell me how long it took yall to get the license when you mailed off your packet with everything completed? I was looking around and I saw some people got theirs in a month, while some took 180 days. I have no criminal background at all so i hope it will take one month.
I saw that you have to qualify for 5 shots in 10 seconds and with other time frames. Do you have to hit the target in a specific area or is it just to shoot 5 shots in 10 seconds and hit anywhere in the target? I have never shot a gun before and I will take the class without practicing shooting one. I don't want to fail the shooting qualification and have to pay again to retake the class.
THANKS, GOD BLESS
Re: How long does it usually take to get a License mailed to
Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 10:24 pm
by Kevinf2349
Welcome.
For the shooting part you need to score 175(?) out of 250 so, Yes, you have to be able to hit what you are shooting at. You also need to attend a 10 hours class. I thoroughly recommend contacting Tom Estep and taking a lesson or two if only for gun safety lessons.
You could venture into T's Guns and Ammo and pick up other CHL instructor cards too. T's is in Texas City on the loop.
You will find several thread on here under 'The Waiting Room' that should help you. Things are certainly better now than they were a year ago! That is for sure.

Re: How long does it usually take to get a License mailed to
Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 10:26 pm
by gemini
glad to hear you're interested in learning to shoot. Since you have never shot a firearm
before, I urge you to seek competent training prior to taking the CHL class.
The NRA Basic Pistol course would be a great place to start. I'm sure there are other
training facilities that offer a "basic' course too. Please, please, please seek out a
knowledgeable instructor or class to attend. It will benefit you greatly.... and just
might help keep you and those around you safe.
Re: How long does it usually take to get a License mailed to
Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 10:37 pm
by G26ster
You NEED to get some instruction and go shoot my friend, before you take the test. Go to this site, and it explains the scoring. Do yourself a big favor and train & practice first!
http://www.krtraining.com/KRTraining/Te ... Ltest.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I used this site as an example (first one that popped up on Google), and I am in no way affiliated with or advocating their training.
Re: How long does it usually take to get a License mailed to
Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 11:23 pm
by straightedge3
Thanks, I will practice first, So did it take you 1 month to get your license mailed to you when you sent everything off, or did it take around 3 months? I have nothing on my record so would it take around 1 month? Thanks
Re: How long does it usually take to get a License mailed to
Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 11:25 pm
by aaangel
here's a start. good luck in your endeavor. you came to the right place. we will be more than happy to assist you!
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administra ... sindex.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: How long does it usually take to get a License mailed to
Posted: Tue May 18, 2010 4:33 am
by Teamless
Kevinf2349 wrote:score 175(?) out of 250
Exactly and is not that hard to score to be honest
Kevinf2349 wrote:recommend contacting Tom Estep
I agree, he did my wife's and my CHL class, incredibly knowledgeable and keeps the 10 hour class very interesting.
you can PM him on this forum, his name is ElGato, and he does his class at the Nessler Center in Texas City.
He also has rental or loaner weapons for the range if you do not have your own.
The other recommendations about a basic handgun course, I fully recommend.
Tom also does those, as well as a number of other people.
The turnaround time in Feb/March was about 35 days (with no application issues) from DPS receiving to Plastic in hand.
April/May is looking like 45 - 50 days, but due to the FBI fingerprint review of the census workers.
I would guess that the time should revert back to about 30 shortly, and maybe a bit less as the new website makes most things electronic.
Good Luck!
Re: How long does it usually take to get a License mailed to
Posted: Tue May 18, 2010 4:42 am
by Teamless
Teamless wrote:Nessler Center in Texas City.
I need to add, that if you do your class with Tom, bring a pad to sit on, the chairs at the Nessler Center leave a lot to be desired (as would most chairs after 10 hours).
My wife went to WalMart, sporting goods section, picked up some stadium seat pads for about $6. I would suggest 2 of them LOL.
Re: How long does it usually take to get a License mailed to
Posted: Tue May 18, 2010 9:27 am
by ddstuder
straightedge3 wrote:Thanks, I will practice first, So did it take you 1 month to get your license mailed to you when you sent everything off, or did it take around 3 months? I have nothing on my record so would it take around 1 month? Thanks
There seems to be a lot of variables when it come to how long it will take. Each applicant can have a different waiting period. My friend and I took our class on the same day, mailed our packets together, and she recieved her license in less than 4 weeks and mine took almost 3 months.
Re: How long does it usually take to get a License mailed to
Posted: Tue May 18, 2010 12:01 pm
by ericlw
honestly i would avoid living on galveston island itself. that whole place is bad. granted la marque and texas city arent much better or maybe worse.
I belive once i mailed mine off it took about 3.5 months to get mine back. I sent mine 1 week after my father did. I got approved about 2 weeks before my father did and he still got his before me.
Re: How long does it usually take to get a License mailed to
Posted: Tue May 18, 2010 7:58 pm
by Liberty
ericlw wrote:honestly i would avoid living on galveston island itself. that whole place is bad. granted la marque and texas city arent much better or maybe worse.
Everyone is entitled to an opinion, I guess.

Re: How long does it usually take to get a License mailed to
Posted: Tue May 18, 2010 8:07 pm
by seamusTX
ericlw wrote:honestly i would avoid living on galveston island itself. that whole place is bad.
And what Garden of Eden do you live in?
Straightedge3, welcome to the forum. My family has lived in the City of Galveston for 15 years. I'll try to answer your questions.
You can't do better than Tom Estep.
- Jim
Re: How long does it usually take to get a License mailed to
Posted: Wed May 19, 2010 3:42 pm
by ericlw
and galveston is some paradise?
right.
Re: How long does it usually take to get a License mailed to
Posted: Wed May 19, 2010 6:43 pm
by seamusTX
Galveston isn't paradise, but please don't make it out to be worse than it is. Something like 50,000 honest people live here.
- Jim
Re: How long does it usually take to get a License mailed to
Posted: Wed May 19, 2010 7:18 pm
by sjfcontrol
seamusTX wrote:Galveston isn't paradise, but please don't make it out to be worse than it is. Something like 50,000 honest people live here.
- Jim
Not bad out of a total population of 150,000. (Sorry, couldn't resist)
